Dubbed the “Blue Devil” by the team at GM, the ZR1 is GM’s most powerful production car ever, sporting a 6.2L V8 pumping out 638hp and a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds. Motor Trend was able to get the ZR1 to an incredible top speed of 200.5mph, did the quarter mile in 11.2 seconds finishing at 130.5mph, and raved about its performance.

So, everyone else loves the ZR1, but why was it picked for the cover of Gran Turismo’s PSP debut? Well, who better to explain that than the man behind GT himself, Kazunori Yamauchi.

“This spring I visited Detroit a few times, mainly to see the factories of the Big 3, and their museums and archives.

What I came to realize in those visits, was that the designs and mechanisms of American cars, in all eras over the years, have always been aimed towards a bright new future that all little kids dream about, and just
seeing them makes your heart race.

I found that when I’m surrounded by these generations of American cars, it just simply makes me happy.

There is a different experience in European car museums. In Europe I am more enveloped by a humbling, almost holy experience, in awe of the existence of the Automobile that was born out of practicality, and usually
appreciate its rich, diligent history of engineering in silent respect.

And so I’ve really come to realize more and more lately, that “American Cars have always been looking straight into the future, and have always been full of dreams – and quite wonderful after all.”

With all the automotive industry in the world at a crisis, I know that North American automakers are especially in a very difficult situation, and I understand the background and the reasons behind this.

And I can easily envision these things affecting our works as well. After all, as you well know, the game Gran Turismo is a video game that grew thanks to the insight and vision of the automotive industry, and in effect
nurtured by its kindness, in its very womb.

And that’s why I wanted us to make something, that could cheer up those in the industry.

Many GM cars representative from the Autorama days have really helped build the foundations of my adoration and sense of value for cars. And something that had always been deep within my heart over the years, is the long line
of Corvettes;

As long as I’ve known in every era, even from when I was a very small child, the Corvette has always been one of the coolest cars around.

And that is the reason why the newest Corvette ZR-1, was selected for the package cover of Gran Turismo for the PSP that is planned for release.

Also, there’s a fun little bit at the ending of this PSP version Gran Turismo, that is in concert with this package image of the Corvette.

I hope you’ll look forward to its release..”

And to close off the work-week with a bit of an international flare, here’s a Japanese commercial for Gran Turismo, featuring two of the world’s best three-lettered racing machines on one of the world’s most challenging tracks. Check out the video below and let your eyes feast on the future of handheld racing. Extra kudos points for anyone that can tell us what cars and track we’re talking about…and if you need some extra HD help, the video is also available for download (for free) on PSN.

So mark it on your calendars: Gran Turismo, on UMD and PSN this October 1. More than 800 cars, 35 tracks, a lifetime’s worth of racing.

“sporting a 6.2L V8 pumping out 638hp and a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds. Motor Trend was able to get the ZR1 to an incredible top speed of 200.5mph, did the quarter mile in 11.2 seconds finishing at 130.5mph, and raved about its performance.”
-English please. Some of us do not speak car language :)

I bought a white PSP3003 a few weeks ago just for this game. I Can’t Wait!!! this and GT5!! Is the Top Gear test track in this as well as GT5? I can’t wait to set lap times and have a world leaderboard :) Will you be getting someone (a developer) to change their name to “The Stig” to set really fast lap times that we have to aim to beat?!

Maybe I am missing something huge… but why is this PSP GT even happening? Gran Turismo has long been about precision and ultra realism – a portable system with a small screen and a shoddy nub (wannabe stick) is NOT the environment for GT. Is GT-PSP more arcade and less simulation? Is that what I’m missing?

No, no hang on. I think I got it. GT5 Prologue didn’t steal enough cash from all of us to fund the development of GT5 so an upgraded GT2 port was progasmd onto the PSP.

Yes, I said progasmd. It’s an orgasm of programming code. Mostly leads to code bloat, memory leaks, and illegitimate children.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be buying this GT-PSP, and I’ll buy GT5 Prologue Part 2, and Part 3, but for the love of fuel, when can we have the main course?!

Polyphony should have just released GT1 and GT2 on PSN. But, this is following the PSPGO business model: “Make something with no new functionality but call it awesome, then charge lots of money for it.”

What’s faster the Vette or th Skyline ? I was just wondering, nice cover though. Are we gonna get the game for real this time, or is it gonna be delayed another three years. Just wondering bout that also